The G1 Darley Prix Morny, run over six furlongs at Deauville on Sunday, 18 August, had been touted as one of the juvenile contests of the season and the race certainly didn’t disappoint as Earthlight (Shamardal) retained his unbeaten record in sensational style when winning from Raffle Prize (Slade Power).
Earthlight was settled towards the rear early on under Mickael Barzalona, while two-year-old filly Raffle Prize set the early pace. Earthlight then came with a tremendous run down the home straight and outbattled Raffle Prize close to home to win by a neck. The pair were two and a half lengths clear of Golden Horde in third.
Trained by Andre Fabre, Earthlight now boasts four wins from four starts, with his previous victories including the G3 Darley Prix de Cabourg (also part of the Darley Series) last time out. His trainer indicated after the race that he could run again this year in the G1 Darley Dewhurst, with the English 2,000 Guineas a longer-term target for this talented colt.
Raffle Prize’s trainer Mark Johnston stated his charge will also head to Newmarket for her next start, in the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes.
Earthlight is the first foal to race out of the G1-placed New Approach mare Winters Moon, herself a half-sister to Manduro’s G1-winning son Mandaean, plus fellow G1 winner Wavering.
Shamardal has been enjoying a banner year and has now sired three top-flight winners in 2019, including Royal Ascot superstar and new Darley stallion Blue Point. Only yesterday, his daughter Tarnawa added another Group victory to her record at Cork, while his two-year-old son Pinatubo was the hugely impressive winners of the G2 Vintage Stakes late last month.
